Gunners' manager will find Sunday's game a bit strange without Sir Alex
Ferguson leading the opposition and jokes it may be an odd experience for
the referee too

Arsène Wenger strides confidently into Old Trafford this weekend, wanting to welcome David Moyes to “our world of pressure” and wondering whether there was also a world of pressure for officials when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge. “That’s a question you shouldn’t ask me but the referees,’’ said Wenger waspishly.

For 17 years, the Arsenal manager has been visiting Old Trafford, doing well initially but with only one success in his past 11 Premier League trips there. The long, glowering shadow that Ferguson cast over the dugouts is no more, the Scot having retired from the tumult to a quiet seat in the stands. It will feel “a bit strange” without his old sparring partner, admitted Wenger.

Referees who endured Ferguson’s ire will certainly note the change. Old Trafford is less intimidating without Ferguson. Wenger, a manager of

20-20 vision when it comes to refereeing mistakes against Arsenal, has never forgotten Wayne Rooney’s 2004 tumble against Sol Campbell, who appeared to be withdrawing his leg. In the mozzarella-splattered aftermath, Wenger remarked: “We got the usual penalty awarded against us when we come to Manchester United and they are in difficulty.”

After Rooney fell on being challenged by Manuel Almunia in 2009, Wenger argued that the United No 10 “pushed the border” between “intelligence and cheating’’. Rooney has always defended himself against accusations of simulation, saying he is “an honest player”. These rivals have issues and there will inevitably be focus on the performance of Michael Oliver, one of the Premier League’s better referees.

The question of whether United enjoy favourable decisions at home has long obsessed opposing supporters. Wenger took a different tack when asked how Ferguson’s worth to United could be quantified. “No, have you tried? Every year there is a company who makes the table with and without the referees’ mistakes. So, check that.’’

Yet the researcher, Tim Long, who reviewed refereeing decisions from the 2010-2011 and 2011-12 seasons found that United would still have won the league comfortably in the first and would actually have beaten Manchester City to the title in the second.

After brief contemplation, Wenger revisited his comments on officials, on whether they really were influenced by Ferguson. “I don’t know,’’ he said. “Ask the referees. I joke. I think the referees were absolutely relaxed and happy to go there! I expect the referees to make the right decisions. I never have any preconceived ideas.

“The pressure comes as well from the crowd when they go for every ball and put the referee under pressure. That’s a bit more in the North than in the South. You know that when you go to Sunderland the crowd plays every ball. When you go to Everton the crowd plays every ball. In London the crowd is a bit more relaxed.’’ That is another manic phone-in started by Wenger.

Although he did not mention Oliver by name, Wenger runs the risk of falling foul of the FA’s 2009 edict advising clubs “that any media comments by managers, players or any other club officials relating to appointed match officials prior to a fixture will no longer be allowed – such pre-match comments will be deemed improper and dealt with accordingly’’.

Arsenal and United have strayed into the realms of excess in the past. Arsenal players have thudded into tackles. United players have kicked Wenger’s men (and José Antonio Reyes probably still has nightmares about the Nevilles). “It’s down to the referee to make the right decisions, to protect the players and to give the free kicks you deserve,’’ said Wenger.

As for Ashley Young’s well-earned reputation as a diver, the Arsenal manager said: “It doesn’t concern me. In England now people try to cheat the referee and try to dive. They get a quick negative reaction from the press and that’s the best way to get it out of the game, whether it’s Ashley Young or one of my players. Even your own fans don’t want to see that anymore. We have improved on that front in English football.”

Wenger will seek Ferguson out afterwards. “Certainly. It will be more peaceful because we do not fight each other.’’

He can see the weight of expectation on Moyes. “He will be under more pressure than he was at Everton to deliver, certainly. Welcome to our world of pressure! When a guy has been there for 26 years and goes, it takes time for the guy who comes in. For me, Moyes is dealing very well with the situation.’’

Even under new management, United still set the benchmark. “People judge you on how well you do over there. So it is a big game. Our hunger will be tested there.’’

His belief that Arsenal will win is rooted in his appreciation of Aaron Ramsey as “a great player”, in his admiration of Olivier Giroud’s “resilience and stamina” and in the obduracy of a back four of Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs who have just frustrated Luis Suárez, Daniel Sturridge and Robert Lewandowski.

“People speak always of the defence I inherited when I arrived here,’’ said Wenger. “It was an exceptional defence and a bit similar to now because Tony Adams and Steve Bould were similar [to Mertesacker] and Martin Keown was a bit different. On the flanks I had two really tough, intelligent English fullbacks. People forget a lot about the [‘Invincibles’] defence that was unbeaten. It’s unbelievable that defence never gets any credit. Lauren, Kolo [Touré], Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole were absolutely exceptional.

“This was a more powerful centre than they are today because Kolo and Sol were absolutely pacy players with unbelievable physical power. When you saw a striker going ahead of them you knew they would catch them up. They were less calculating but much more physical. On the flanks we had two more footballing players because Lauren was a midfielder and Cole has made a fantastic career because he is a great football player. This defence is a bit between the two.’’

Wenger’s defenders know they need to be at their best to live with Rooney and their erstwhile team-mate, Robin van Persie. “It will be strange to see him in a United shirt because for me he is an Arsenal man,’’ said Wenger, who believes that Rene Meulensteen played “a big part’’ in persuading his fellow-Dutchman to join United in 2012.